Conveying and elevating apparatus



April 29, 1924.

S. H. RICKARD CONVEYING AND ELEVATING APPARATUS Filed May 23 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hu -i; M

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patented Apr. 29, 1924.

units $IMEON H. l-t-IOKARD, 033 FREEDOM, PENNSYLVANIA.

CONVEYING AND ELEVATING APPARATUS.

Application filed May 23, 1822.

To all whom may concern:

Be it known that I, SIMnoN H. RIOKARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Freedom, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Conveying and Elevating Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

My invention is an improvement in con veying and elevating apparatus for loose material, as coal and the like. The invention refers to the general arrangement of the conveying and elevating apparatus, and particularly to the construction of the chain links for the flights or buckets, the sprocket wheels therefor, the elevator boot, and various other features as shall be more fully hereinafter set forth.

In the drawings, showing the invention in some of its various possible installations,

Fig. 1 is a general sectional elevation, partly broken away, showing a conveyor and elevator constructed for continuous operation and utilizing the invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan View on the line IIIT of Fig. 1; V

Fig. L3 is an enlarged detail view in elevation, showing the mounting of the conveyor chain on the lower sprocket, and the form of the elevator boot;

Fig. a: is a plan View of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line VV of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a detail View of connected strands of theconveyor andelevator chain as used; Fig. 7 is an edge elevation of Fig. 6-;

Fig. 8 is a cross section on the line VIH VIII of Fig. 6; w

Fig. 9'is'a partial sectional view, similar to Fig. 1, showing a modifiedconstruction of conveyor for use underneath a car; and

Fig. 10 is a cross section on the line X- X of Fig. 9. I

The movable element of the invention Whichcontributes to its special efiiciency for conveying and elevating loads of loosematerial, is a chain of special construction, composed of oppositely arranged pairs of links, pivotally connected successively to similar pairs, each pair including an inwardly or outwardly flanged link adapted for connection with the flight or bucket, and capable of traveling around special sprocket wheels andin guiding tracks.

In the drawings, A. is a conveyor arranged longitudinally in a suitable pit a underneath Serial No. 563,010.

a railroad track 2, 2, for receiving the contents of a car 3 thereon. The conveyor A is designed to deliver material, as coal, in the iopper e of an elevator boot 5 from which it is removed by the buckets-of an elevator B arranged to discharge at its top through a suitable chute into a receiving hopper or bin.

The frame of conveyor A consists of upper and lower angle members 6, 7, framed together and spaced apart the proper distance to provide by their lower inwardly extending flanges, supporting trackways for the lower edges of the chain links. The vertical angles rovide outer guideways between which, a ove and below, the chain links, and their flights pass in load-supporting and return movement.

The elevator B is similarly constructed of angle members 8, 9, also suitably braced by lattice bracing, as shown, and providing by their flanges guiding and retaining trackways in the same Way.

The head shaft 10 of conveyor A is geared with the foot shaft 11 of elevator B by sprocket gearing and chain 12, and the head shaft 13 of the elevator is preferably geared by sprocket gearing with any suitable similar gearing, as chain in driving connection with wheels 11l5 which are in driving connection with an engine, as will be readily understood. Thechain 12 may be of the same construction as the conveyor and elevating chains, without the flange, together With similar driving and driven sprockets. Ordinarily, a clutch b is interposed between the foot shaft 11 and the driving sprocket (Z of chain 12, so that the operator may control theconveyor to prevent overloading of the elevator boot in case of any surplus supply being delivered to the conveyor.

Referring more particularly to the chain construction, it consists of pairs of outer and inner links 16-17 in overlapping pivotal connection with similar adjacent link's, 0-fi'-set to a distance equalling the thickness of the links alternately, as shown in Fig. 6. Each inner link has an inward ly extending flange 18 terminating inward ly of each rounded end and provided with rivet or bolt holes 19 for attachment of the flights or rear walls ofthe buckets, of the conveyor or elevator respectively.

holes for insertion of connecting bolts or pins 21 having outer heads 22 providing The I ends of the links 1617 are provided with 'fleXibleTjoints for passage around the sprocket wheels 23 offshafts '11 and The bolts or pins 21 are preferably ofsofter "steel than that of the links, so ,asto avoid impairment of the 'ho lesby undue wear, the pins being renewed from tnne to tune.

Said sprocket wheels as shown are square,

" one for each double strand chain, and eaeh;

"sprocket wheels, or vic'e'versa;

has anouter circular flange 2i providing for. embracing and guiding engagement with V the'gouternsideslof the links. In this respect thesprocket flanges j 24- are. in. edge alinement with the flanges of angle.1n em-, bers 8-9,'-'so as to ensure tracking ofthe links in passing from the-other supporting flange of said angle members on to the Referring'to the elevator, the'bu'ckets are 7 formed of a back wall 2570f sheet (gr-plate metal, similar-sides 26 26, and; an outer front wall 27 exactly the same as the back wall 25, divergingupwardly from the' bot-" tom, showm Sides 26 have inwardly extending flanges 285-29, and the inner flanges 28 areconnected directly with the back wall andwith flanges 18 of the inner-links by rivets or bolts 30 extending throughsuitableholesin the bucket members; and" the holes 19 of the link flanges; The buckets are of uniform width, throughout, and correspond to the extreme width betweenthe outermostedges of the outside links for uniformity. The sides 26' are exactly the same-in shape, providing for interc-l1angeab1l-1ty,-, and avoiding necessity for rights and lefts.-

' The rows of attaching holes of I alternatcing' links are off-set'inwardly from those of ad acent hnks a distance equallingthe' di'iference in alinement, due to-the off-set ting ofalte'rnate links, so as to bring the holes into; alin'ement when connected, and

the links straighten out into strandforina 'tion, the edges of the buckets will abut Z continuously. As showmthe bottom edges of the bucketxare shghtly spaced apartas at o'sofas toallow for escapeof moisture 'bydraining Any'small' particles which may" pass. throughsuch opening will. be-received in the nextlowermost 'bucket, so a s toen- 'sure against any lo'ss'of' material: In

' travelling around thesprocket 'wheels,fthey will open up," as in Fig, 3, as the links con form to the shape of the sprocket wheels.

The elevator boot -5 s is of concave construction through it's i mainbottoni cavity,

- having a receiving front '-portion curved concentric withthe center of the shaft 11, as

tit--31, and a rea'r portion' 32io'f' longer arc.

In operation, the bucket edges approach downwardly through the rear cavity with ample clearance, untilthey arriveat about= the center, when they begin to rise in filling-by scooping up the contents of the boot, conforming closelyto'the inner contour of the boot? The advantageof such construction uisthat it; ensures even filling of the bucketsand avoids crushing the coal, or impairing the edgev ofthe bucket. At each outer side, .the boot! is enlarged by side bays 38 for clearanceof the extended wflanges24c of-the sprocket wheels, as in Fig, 4, so that the 'widthof the bootniay he maintained at r substantially the 7 width c of the buckets themselves, withslight clear-V ance. By this means, I avoid any grinding or crushingof the; material, or injury to the buckets, at the sides. a I

' The construction and operation of the ap-c paratuswill be readily'nunderstood and appreciated from the fo'regoing description. It provides a very strong and serviceable construction, capable of'continuousoperation, and not liable to get out of order. When used with flights rfor conveyor purlarly attached flights, either abutting or overlapping, in. connection with the trackways and sprockets, is substantially the same. as in-the case ofbuckets poses, the operation of the-links withsimi- It will be noted also that'the bucketsare I a continuous abutting series, and that each bucketcis. connected'with its links. at each side for substantially the full length of both bucket and. link. Also, thatthe links being continuously straight from one end torthe other,'provide; for a continuous bearing edge on the trackway, as well as for practically. continuous connection with the buckets or conveyorslats. The resulting efi'ect and advantage is in providing for a continuously;

firm and substantial supporting foundation and carryingl mechanism' for the structure,

either. in'conveyor or elevator: form. I V In'FigsJQ andlO I show-amodifiedconstruction in which a ortablesectionofconveyor i. is utilized; or easy location under a car, but extending across over the vra ls, for. temporary use. In such arrangement,

theconveyior chain 16 ridesalong the flanges of upper and lower angle members 63 7,- under the'power' imparted by, the sprocket 1 of -head shaft 1O driven by chain 12; from the elevatorfoot shaft 11. I

The middle portions offsupportingfrun ners 6f-7 are lorought closely together for compact construction, widening-apart towardseach end; as shown, for clearance of the terminal sprockets, and incidentally inclining the conveyor at its receiving and delivery ends. Y r

The entire structure is framed together provided with supporting legs 35 and in wardly inclinedsides-36 sufficiently long to receive the contents of car 3 which rests by its wheels on the rails 2 of the track. By this arrangement, coal or other material is received and delivered to the conveyor and carried thereby and delivered over the end of the conveyor to the elevator boot. When the car is emptied, the conveyor section is easily lifted away, allowing shifting of the empty and next loaded car, when it may be replaced and the operation resumed.

It will be understood, of course, that in adapting the chain, hexagonal or octagonal sprocket wheels maybe substituted, if desired, with the flat sides suitably designed for the length of the links, and that other changes or modifications may be made by the skilled mechanic, within the scope of the following claims.

lVhat I claim is:

1. In combination, an elevator provided with supporting angle shaped trackway members and bottom and top sprocket wheel members having faces and flanges in alining conformation with the bearing faces and flanges of the trackway members, pairs of double-sided link chains engaging said sprocket wheel members and trackway members by their edges, driving gearing therefor, a continuous series of buckets extending across and secured to said link chains, a receiving boot for the lower terminal of the conveyor, and a laterally extending conveyor arranged to receive material bygravity consisting of a trackway frame having similar angle shaped runway members for conveyor chains having cross supporting flights, a tail and head shaft and sprockets therefor, and a driving chain connecting said head shaft with the bottom sprocket wheel shaft of the elevator.

2.. In combination, an elevator provided with supporting angle shaped trackway members and bottom and top sprocket wheel members having faces and flanges in alining conformation with the bearing faces and flanges of the trackway members, pairs of double-sided link chains engaging said sprocket wheel membersand trackway members by their edges, driving gearing therefor, a continuous series of buckets extending chain connecting said head shaft with the bottom sprocket wheel shaft of the elevator.

3. In combination with a pair of spaced apart square sprocket wheels having outermost circular flanges, a series of pairs of double links pivotally connected to provide for cooperation with the sprocket wheel and provided with an inwardly extending flange on each inner link for its full available length with sufiicient pivoting clearance, and a bucket mounted across each pair of double links consisting of a back plate extending across all of the link edges and secured to said flanges and of a length co-extensive with the length of the links between their pivoted joints, and provided with outwardly extlending side walls and an outermost cross we I. I

In testimony whereof I hereunto afiix my signature.

SIMEON H. RICKARD. 

